Vannessa
Vannessa was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 1191st with 123 babies. More babies were named Vannessa in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Vanessa) invented by Jonathan Swift · English
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1987123 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,231babies recorded
What does the name Vannessa mean?
Vannessa is a spelling of Vanessa, pronounced the same way, so it shares Vanessa's meaning and origin.
Vanessa was invented by Jonathan Swift as a private name for his friend Esther (Hester) Vanhomrigh, and used in his poem Cadenus and Vanessa. He made it from the first syllable of her surname plus Essa, a pet form of Esther. Wiktionary gives this account, and the 1910 Bell edition of Swift's poems lists Vanessa among the fancy names he gave women friends. The name was later used for a genus of butterflies and became common as a first name in the 20th century.
Van(homrigh) (Dutch surname, “first syllable of Vanhomrigh”)Essa (English, “pet form of Esther”)
How sure is this? Well established.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Vanessa', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- The Poems of Jonathan Swift, vol. 1, ed. W. E. Browning (1910) (Project Gutenberg eBook #14353), Project Gutenberg
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Vannessa popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #11,025 | 9 |
| 2010 | #5,966 | 23 |
| 2000 | #2,506 | 61 |
| 1990 | #1,567 | 98 |
| 1980 | #2,277 | 44 |
| 1970 | #2,701 | 27 |
| 1960 | #1,444 | 59 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Vannessa, counting every spelling?
Vannessa is a spelling of Vanessa, a name family that ranked #395 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 841 girls in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Vannessa?
About 3,000 people born in the US named Vannessa are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 29 and 51. That makes Vannessa mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Vannessa by state
How common Vannessa was among girls born in each state in 1985–1989, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in California (2.8×). In 42 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Vannessa: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Vannessa, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Vannessa
What does Vannessa mean?
Vannessa is a spelling of Vanessa, which means “invented by Jonathan Swift” (English origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Vannessa?
Vannessa was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 1191st with 123 babies. More babies were named Vannessa in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Vannessa a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Vannessa in the US.
Where was Vannessa most popular?
In 1985–1989, Vannessa was most common in California (0.16 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Mexico and Texas.